Tricyclic amidine derivatives as hiv attachment inhibitors

ABSTRACT

Compounds of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: (F) wherein A is selected from the group consisting of: (F) and; (F) and wherein Z is: (F) are useful as HIV attachment inhibitors.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/681,336 filed Aug. 9, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides compounds having drug and bio-affecting properties, their pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use. In particular, the invention herein is directed to tricyclic amidine derivatives as HIV attachment inhibitors that possess unique antiviral activity, as well as to methods for making these compounds, and to compositions containing these compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus-1) infection remains a major medical problem, with an estimated 45-50 million people infected worldwide at the end of 2010. The number of cases of HIV and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) has risen rapidly. In 2005, approximately 5.0 million new infections were reported, and 3.1 million people died from AIDS. Currently available drugs for the treatment of HIV include nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors zidovudine (or AZT or RETROVIR®), didanosine (or VIDEX®), stavudine (or ZERIT®), lamivudine (or 3TC or EPIVIR®), zalcitabine (or DDC or HIVID®), abacavir succinate (or ZIAGEN®), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate salt (or VIREAD®), emtricitabine (or FTC-EMTRIVA®); non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors: nevirapine (or VIRAMUNE®), delavirdine (or RESCRIPTOR®), efavirenz (or SUSTIVA®), etravirine (INTELENCE®) and rilpivirine (EDURANT®), and peptidomimetic protease inhibitors or approved formulations: saquinavir, indinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, lopinavir, KALETRA® (lopinavir and Ritonavir), darunavir, atazanavir (REYATAZ®) and tipranavir (APTIVUS®), and integrase inhibitors such as raltegravir (ISENTRESS®), and entry inhibitors such as enfuvirtide (T-20) (FUZEON®) and maraviroc (SELZENTRY®). Several single pill combinations have been also approved, which include COMBIVIR® (contains lamivudine and zidovudine), TRIZIVIR® (contains abacavir, zidovudine, and lamivudine), Epzicom® (contains abacavir and lamivudine), TRUVADA® (contains tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine), ATRIPLA® (contains efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) and COMPLERA® (contains emtricitabine, rilpivirine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate).

Each of these drugs can only transiently restrain viral replication if used alone. However, when used in combination, these drugs have a profound effect on viremia and disease progression. In fact, significant reductions in death rates among AIDS patients have been documented as a consequence of the widespread application of combination therapy. However, despite these impressive results, 30 to 50% of patients may ultimately fail combination drug therapies. Insufficient drug potency, non-compliance, restricted tissue penetration and drug-specific limitations within certain cell types (e.g., most nucleoside analogs cannot be phosphorylated in resting cells) may account for the incomplete suppression of sensitive viruses. Furthermore, the high replication rate and rapid turnover of HIV-1 combined with the frequent incorporation of mutations, leads to the appearance of drug-resistant variants and treatment failures when sub-optimal drug concentrations are present. Therefore, novel anti-HIV agents exhibiting distinct resistance patterns, and favorable pharmacokinetic as well as safety profiles are needed to provide more treatment options. Improved HIV fusion inhibitors and HIV entry coreceptor antagonists are two examples of new classes of anti-HIV agents further being studied by a number of investigators.

HIV attachment inhibitors are a novel subclass of antiviral compounds that bind to the HIV surface glycoprotein gp120, and interfere with the interaction between the surface protein gp120 and the host cell receptor CD4. Thus, they prevent HIV from attaching to the human CD4 T-cell, and block HIV replication in the first stage of the HIV life cycle. The properties of HIV attachment inhibitors have been improved in an effort to obtain compounds with maximized utility and efficacy as antiviral agents. A disclosure describing indoles of which the structure shown below for BMS-705 is representative, has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,469,006 (Antiviral Indoleoxoacetyl Piperazine Derivatives).

Two other compounds, referred to in the literature as BMS-806 and BMS-043 have been described in both the academic and patent art:

Some description of their properties in human clinical trials has been disclosed in the literature.

It should be noted that in all three of these structures, a piperazine amide (in these three structures a piperazine phenyl amide) is present and this group is directly attached to an oxoacetyl moiety. The oxoacetyl group is attached at the 3-position of 4-fluoro indole in BMS-705 and to the 3 position of substituted azaindoles in BMS-806 and BMS-043.

In an effort to obtain improved anti-HIV compounds, later publications described in part, modified substitution patterns on the indoles and azaindoles. Examples of such efforts include: (1) novel substituted indoleoxoacetic piperazine derivatives, (2) substituted piperazinyloxoacetylindole derivatives, and (3) substituted azaindoleoxoacetic piperazine derivatives.

Replacement of these groups with other heteroaromatics or substituted heteroaromatics or bicyclic hydrocarbons was also shown to be feasible. Examples include: (1) indole, azaindole and related heterocyclic amidopiperazine derivatives; (2) bicyclo[4.4.0]antiviral derivatives; and (3) diazaindole derivatives.

A select few replacements for the piperazine amide portion of the molecules have also been described in the art and among these examples are (1) some piperidine alkenes; (2) some pyrrolidine amides; (3) some N-aryl or heteroaryl piperazines; (4) some piperazinyl ureas; and (5) some carboline-containing compounds.

Method(s) for preparing prodrugs for this class of compounds are disclosed in Prodrugs of Piperazine and Substituted Piperidine Antiviral Agents (Ueda et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,745,625 or WO 2005/090367).

A published PCT patent application WO 2003/103607 discloses an assay useful for assaying some HIV inhibitors.

Several published patent applications describe combination studies with piperazine benzamide inhibitors, for example, U.S. Publication No. 2005/0215543 (WO 2005/102391), U.S. Publication No. 2005/0215544 (WO 2005/102328), and U.S. Pat. No. 7,776,863 (WO 2005/102392).

A publication on new compounds in this class of attachment inhibitors (Wang, J. et al., Org. Biol. Chem., 3:1781-1786 (2005)) and a patent application on some more remotely related compounds have appeared as WO 2005/016344.

Published patent applications WO 2005/016344 and WO 2005/121094 also describe piperazine derivatives which are HIV inhibitors. Other references in the HIV attachment area include U.S. Pat. No. 7,851,476; U.S. Pat. No. 7,396,830; U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,504,399; 7,348,337 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,924 and WO 2007/103456. A literature reference is J. Med. Chem., 50:6535 (2007).

What is therefore needed in the art are new HIV attachment inhibitor compounds, and compositions thereof, which are efficacious against HIV infection.

Of particular interest are new tricyclic amidine derivatives as HIV attachment inhibitor compounds, described herein. The compounds of the present invention are tricyclic amidine derivatives, which are believed to be structurally distinct from the piperazine aryl amide HIV attachment inhibitors set forth in the existing literature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compounds of Formula I below, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or solvates (e.g., hydrates) thereof, their pharmaceutical formulations, and their use in patients suffering from or susceptible to a virus such as HIV. The compounds of Formula I, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or solvates are effective antiviral agents, particularly as inhibitors of HIV. They are useful for the treatment of HIV and AIDS.

One embodiment of the present invention is directed to one or more compounds of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

wherein A is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein a, b, c, d and e are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, COOR⁵⁶, XR⁵⁷, NA¹A², C(O)R⁷, C(O)NR⁵⁵R⁵⁶, B, Q, and E; B is selected from the group consisting of —C(═NR⁴⁶)(R⁴⁷), C(O)NR⁴⁰R⁴¹, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, S(O)₂R⁸, S(O)₂NR⁴⁰R⁴¹, C(O)R⁷, XR^(8a), (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴⁰R⁴¹, (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR^(8b); wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from the group F; wherein aryl is napthyl or substituted phenyl; wherein heteroaryl is a mono or bicyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms for a mono cyclic system and up to 12 atoms in a fused bicyclic system, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; wherein heteroalicyclic is a 3 to 7 membered mono cyclic ring which may contain from 1 to 2 heteroatoms in the ring skeleton and which may be fused to a benzene or pyridine ring; Q is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from the group consisting of C(O)NR⁵⁵R⁵⁶, hydroxy, cyano and XR⁵⁷; E is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl are independently optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of phenyl, heteroaryl, SMe, SPh, —C(O)NR⁵⁶R⁵⁷, C(O)R⁵⁷, SO₂(C₁₋₆)alkyl and SO₂Ph; wherein heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; F is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryloxy, (C₁₋₆)thioalkoxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, —C(O)R⁵⁷, benzyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)-aryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroalicyclic, a 4, 5, or 6 membered ring cyclic N-lactam, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-aryl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-heteroalicyclic, S(O)₂(C₁₋₆)alkyl, S(O)₂aryl, —S(O)2 NR⁴²R⁴³, NR⁴²R⁴³, (C₁₋₆)alkylC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, C(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, OC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)OR⁵⁴, (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴²R⁴³, COOR⁵⁴, and (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR⁵⁴; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, and aryloxy, are optionally substituted with one to nine same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group G; wherein aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; G is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryloxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, —C(O)R⁵⁷, benzyl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)-aryl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)-heteroaryl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)-heteroalicyclic, a 4, 5, or 6 membered ring cyclic N-lactam, —NR⁴⁸S(O)₂—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)₂—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)2-aryl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)₂-heteroaryl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)2-heteroalicyclic, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, (C₁₋₆)alkyl C(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, C(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, NHC(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, OC(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, NHC(O)OR^(54′), (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, COOR⁵⁴, and (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR⁵⁴; wherein aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic; wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or with from one to three same or different substituents selected from the group F; wherein for R⁷, R⁸, R^(8a), R^(8b) aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a mono or bicyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms for mono cyclic systems and up to 10 atoms in a bicyclic system, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; wherein heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; R⁸ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆)alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆)alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to six same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group F or (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; R^(8a) is a member selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic; wherein each member is independently optionally substituted with one to six same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group F; R^(8b) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl and phenyl; X is selected from the group consisting of NH or NCH₃, O, and S; R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are independently selected from the group consisting of (a) hydrogen; (b) (C₁₋₆)alkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to two same or different substituents selected from the group F or different functional groups: (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; and (c) (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl or heteroalicyclic; or R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a member selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, 4-NMe piperazine, piperidine, azepine, and morpholine; and wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to two same or different substituents selected from the group F; wherein for R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 6 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; provided when B is C(O)NR⁴⁰R⁴¹, at least one of R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ is not selected from groups (a) or (b); R⁴² and R⁴³ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, allyl, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl and heteroalicyclic; or R⁴² and R⁴³ taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a member selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, 4-NMe piperazine, piperidine, azepine, and morpholine; and wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to two same or different substituents selected from the group G or different functional groups: (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; wherein for R⁴² and R⁴³ aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 6 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is a member selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; R⁴⁶ is selected from the group consisting of H, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl and (C₁₋₆)alkyl, OR⁵⁷, and NR⁵⁵R⁵⁶; R⁴⁷ is selected from the group consisting of H, amino, hydroxyl, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R⁴⁸ and R⁴⁹ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, phenyl, aryl and heteroaryl; R⁵⁰ is selected from the group consisting of H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, and benzyl; wherein each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and benzyl are optionally substituted with one to three same or different (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl R⁵⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R^(54′) is (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R⁵⁵ and R⁵⁶ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and R⁵⁷ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl; and A¹ and A² are independently selected from hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, SO₂D¹, SO₂ND²D³, COD⁴, COCOD⁴, COOD⁴, COND⁵D⁶, COCOND⁵D⁶, COCOOD⁴, C(═ND⁷)D⁸, C(═ND⁹)ND¹⁰D¹¹; A¹ and A² can either never connect with each other, or conjoin to form a ring structure; D¹, D², D³, D⁴, D⁵, D⁶, D⁷, D⁸, D⁹, D¹⁰, and D¹¹ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₅₀ alkyl, C₃-C₅₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₅₀ alkenyl, C₄-C₅₀ cycloalkenyl, phenyl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₅₀ amide and C₃-C₅₀ ether; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzooxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, benzoimidazolyl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazinyl, triazinyl and triazolyl; provided the carbon atoms which comprise the carbon-carbon double bond of said C₃-C₂₀ alkenyl or the carbon-carbon triple bond of said C₃-C₂₀ alkynyl are not the point of attachment to the nitrogen to which D², D³, D⁵, D⁶, D⁷, D⁹, D¹⁰, and D¹¹ is attached; wherein said C₁-C₅₀ alkyl, C₃-C₅₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₅₀ alkenyl, C₄-C₅₀ cycloalkenyl, aryl, phenyl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₅₀ amide and C₃-C₅₀ ether is optionally substituted with one to three same or different of the following functionalities: (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide and steroid, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic;

Z is:

I₁, I₂, I₃, I₄, I₅, I₆, I₇ and I₈ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆) cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆) alkenyl, (C₄₋₆) cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆) alkynyl, CR₈₁R₈₂OR₈₃, COR₈₄, COOR₈₅, or CONR₈₆R₈₇; wherein each of said alkyl and cycloalkyl being optionally substituted with one to three same or different cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; R₈₁, R₈₂, R₈₃, R₈₄, R₈₅, R₈₆, and R₈₇ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆) cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆) alkenyl, (C₄₋₆) cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆) alkynyl; L is a chain containing 1-20 groups selected from the group consisting of C(B¹)(B²), O, NR³, S, S(O), S(O₂), C(O)O, C(O)NA¹, OC(O)NA¹, NA¹C(O)NA¹, and Group D, provided that O, S(O), S(O₂), and C(O)O do not directly bond to each other; B¹ and B² are selected indenpendently from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryloxy, (C₁₋₆)thioalkoxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, —C(O)R⁵⁷, benzyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)-aryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroalicyclic, a 4, 5, or 6 membered ring cyclic N-lactam, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-aryl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-heteroalicyclic, S(O)₂(C₁₋₆)alkyl, S(O)₂aryl, —S(O)2NR⁴²R⁴³, NR⁴²R⁴³, (C₁₋₆)alkylC(O)N⁴²R⁴³, C(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)N⁴²R⁴³, OC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)OR⁵⁴, (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴²R⁴³, COOR⁵⁴, and (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR⁵⁴; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, and aryloxy, are optionally substituted with one to nine same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group G; wherein aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; Ar₁ and Ar₂ is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and heteroaryl; wherein said phenyl and heteroaryl are independently optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from Group C; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzooxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, benzoimidazolyl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazinyl, triazinyl and triazolyl; Group C is selected from the group consisting of OH, OR⁸, NA¹A², CN, COOR⁸, CONA¹A², SO₂R⁸, SO₂NA¹A², (C₁-C₄) alkyl, (C₃-C₆) cycloalkyl, and group D; and wherein said alkyl or cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted with one to three substitutions selected from the group of F, OH, OR⁸, NA¹A², COOR⁸, CONA¹A², SO₂R⁸, SO₂NA¹A²; and Group D is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and heteroaryl; wherein said phenyl and heteroaryl are independently optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from Group C; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzooxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, benzoimidazolyl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazinyl, triazinyl and triazolyl.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for treating mammals infected with a virus, especially wherein the virus is HIV, comprising administering to said mammal an antiviral effective amount of a compound of Formula I above, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and/or diluents. Optionally, the compound of Formula I can be administered in combination with an antiviral effective amount of an AIDS treatment agent selected from the group consisting of: (a) an AIDS antiviral agent; (b) an anti-infective agent; (c) an immunomodulator; and (d) other HIV entry inhibitors.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antiviral effective amount of a compound of Formula I and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients, and/or diluents, and optionally in combination with an antiviral effective amount of an AIDS treatment agent selected from the group consisting of: (a) an AIDS antiviral agent; (b) an anti-infective agent; (c) an immunomodulator; and (d) other HIV entry inhibitors.

In another embodiment there is provided one or more methods for making the compounds of Formula I.

The present invention is directed to these, as well as other important ends, hereinafter described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Since the compounds herein may possess asymmetric centers and therefore occur as mixtures of diastereomers and enantiomers, the present invention also includes the individual diastereoisomeric and enantiomeric forms of the compounds of Formula I in addition to the mixtures thereof.

DEFINITIONS

Unless otherwise specifically set forth elsewhere in the application, one or more of the following terms may be used herein, and shall have the following meanings:

The term “H” refers to hydrogen, including its isotopes.

The term “C₁₋₆ alkyl” as used herein and in the claims (unless specified otherwise) mean straight or branched chain alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, amyl, hexyl and the like.

“C₁-C₄fluoroalkyl” refers to F-substituted C₁-C₄ alkyl wherein at least one H atom is substituted with F atom, and each H atom can be independently substituted by F atom.

“Halogen” refers to chlorine, bromine, iodine or fluorine.

An “aryl” or “Ar” group refers to an all carbon monocyclic or fused-ring polycyclic (i.e., rings which share adjacent pairs of carbon atoms) groups having a completely conjugated pi-electron system. Examples, without limitation, of aryl groups are phenyl, napthalenyl and anthracenyl. The aryl group may be substituted or unsubstituted. When substituted the substituted group(s) is preferably one or more selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy, heteroalicycloxy, thiohydroxy, thioaryloxy, thioheteroaryloxy, thioheteroalicycloxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, carbonyl, O-carbamyl, N-carbamyl, C-amido, N-amido, C-carboxy, O-carboxy, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, trihalomethyl, ureido, amino and —NR^(x)R^(y), wherein R^(x) and R^(y) are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, carbonyl, C-carboxy, sulfonyl, trihalomethyl, and, combined, a five- or six-member heteroalicyclic ring.

As used herein, a “heteroaryl” group refers to a monocyclic or fused ring (i.e., rings which share an adjacent pair of atoms) group having in the ring(s) one or more atoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur and, in addition, having a completely conjugated pi-electron system. Unless otherwise indicated, the heteroaryl group may be attached at either a carbon or nitrogen atom within the heteroaryl group. It should be noted that the term heteroaryl is intended to encompass an N-oxide of the parent heteroaryl if such an N-oxide is chemically feasible as is known in the art. Examples, without limitation, of heteroaryl groups are furyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, benzothiazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrrolyl, pyranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, purinyl, carbazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzimidazolyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, pyrazinyl. diazinyl, pyrazine, triazinyl, tetrazinyl, and tetrazolyl. When substituted the substituted group(s) is preferably one or more selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy, heteroalicycloxy, thioalkoxy, thiohydroxy, thioaryloxy, thioheteroaryloxy, thioheteroalicycloxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, carbonyl, O-carbamyl, N-carbamyl, C-amido, N-amido, C-carboxy, O-carboxy, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, trihalomethyl, ureido, amino, and —NR^(x)R^(y), wherein R^(x) and R^(y) are as defined above.

As used herein, a “heteroalicyclic” group refers to a monocyclic or fused ring group having in the ring(s) one or more atoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Rings are selected from those which provide stable arrangements of bonds and are not intended to encompass systems which would not exist. The rings may also have one or more double bonds. However, the rings do not have a completely conjugated pi-electron system. Examples, without limitation, of heteroalicyclic groups are azetidinyl, piperidyl, piperazinyl, imidazolinyl, thiazolidinyl, 3-pyrrolidin-1-yl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl and tetrahydropyranyl. When substituted the substituted group(s) is preferably one or more selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy, heteroalicycloxy, thiohydroxy, thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, thioheteroaryloxy, thioheteroalicycloxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, O-carbamyl, N-carbamyl, O-thiocarbamyl, N-thiocarbamyl, C-amido, C-thioamido, N-amido, C-carboxy, O-carboxy, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, trihalomethanesulfonamido, trihalomethanesulfonyl, silyl, guanyl, guanidino, ureido, phosphonyl, amino and —NR^(x)R^(y), wherein R^(x) and R^(y) are as defined above.

An “alkyl” group refers to a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon including straight chain and branched chain groups. Preferably, the alkyl group has 1 to 20 carbon atoms (whenever a numerical range; e.g., “1-20”, is stated herein, it means that the group, in this case the alkyl group may contain 1 carbon atom, 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, etc. up to and including 20 carbon atoms). More preferably, it is a medium size alkyl having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Most preferably, it is a lower alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The alkyl group may be substituted or unsubstituted. When substituted, the substituent group(s) is preferably one or more individually selected from trihaloalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy, heteroalicycloxy, thiohydroxy, thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, thioheteroaryloxy, thioheteroalicycloxy, cyano, halo, nitro, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, O-carbamyl, N-carbamyl, O-thiocarbamyl, N-thiocarbamyl, C-amido, C-thioamido, N-amido, C-carboxy, O-carboxy, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, trihalomethanesulfonamido, trihalomethanesulfonyl, and combined, a five- or six-member heteroalicyclic ring.

A “cycloalkyl” group refers to an all-carbon monocyclic or fused ring (i.e., rings which share and adjacent pair of carbon atoms) group wherein one or more rings does not have a completely conjugated pi-electron system. Examples, without limitation, of cycloalkyl groups are cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane, cyclopentene, cyclohexane, cyclohexene, cycloheptane, cycloheptene and adamantane. A cycloalkyl group may be substituted or unsubstituted. When substituted, the substituent group(s) is preferably one or more individually selected from alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy, heteroalicycloxy, thiohydroxy, thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, thioheteroaryloxy, thioheteroalicycloxy, cyano, halo, nitro, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, O-carbamyl, N-carbamyl, O-thiocarbamyl, N-thiocarbamyl, C-amido, C-thioamido, N-amido, C-carboxy, O-carboxy, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, trihalomethanesulfonamido, trihalomethanesulfonyl, silyl, guanyl, guanidino, ureido, phosphonyl, amino and —NR^(x)R^(y) with R^(x) and R^(y) as defined above.

An “alkenyl” group refers to an alkyl group, as defined herein, having at least two carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon double bond.

An “alkynyl” group refers to an alkyl group, as defined herein, having at least two carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.

A “hydroxy” group refers to an —OH group.

An “alkoxy” group refers to both an —O-alkyl and an —O-cycloalkyl group as defined herein.

An “aryloxy” group refers to both an —O-aryl and an —O-heteroaryl group, as defined herein.

A “heteroaryloxy” group refers to a heteroaryl-O— group with heteroaryl as defined herein.

A “heteroalicycloxy” group refers to a heteroalicyclic-O— group with heteroalicyclic as defined herein.

A “thiohydroxy” group refers to an —SH group.

A “thioalkoxy” group refers to both an —S-alkyl and an —S-cycloalkyl group, as defined herein.

A “thioaryloxy” group refers to both an —S-aryl and an —S-heteroaryl group, as defined herein.

A “thioheteroaryloxy” group refers to a heteroaryl-S— group with heteroaryl as defined herein.

A “thioheteroalicycloxy” group refers to a heteroalicyclic-S— group with heteroalicyclic as defined herein.

A “carbonyl” group refers to a —C(═O)—R″ group, where R″ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl (bonded through a ring carbon) and heteroalicyclic (bonded through a ring carbon), as each is defined herein.

An “aldehyde” group refers to a carbonyl group where R″ is hydrogen.

A “thiocarbonyl” group refers to a —C(═S)—R″ group, with R″ as defined herein.

A “Keto” group refers to a —CC(═O)C— group wherein the carbon on either or both sides of the C═O may be alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or a carbon of a heteroaryl or heteroalicyclic group.

A “trihalomethanecarbonyl” group refers to a Z₃CC(═O)— group with said Z being a halogen.

A “C-carboxy” group refers to a —C(═O)O—R″ groups, with R″ as defined herein.

An “O-carboxy” group refers to a R″C(—O)O-group, with R″ as defined herein.

A “carboxylic acid” group refers to a C-carboxy group in which R″ is hydrogen.

A “trihalomethyl” group refers to a —CZ₃, group wherein Z is a halogen group as defined herein.

A “trihalomethanesulfonyl” group refers to an Z₃CS(═O)₂— groups with Z as defined above.

A “trihalomethanesulfonamido” group refers to a Z₃CS(═O)₂NR^(x)— group with Z as defined above and R^(x) being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “sulfinyl” group refers to a —S(═O)—R″ group, with R″ being (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “sulfonyl” group refers to a —S(═O)₂R″ group with R″ being (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “S-sulfonamido” group refers to a —S(═O)₂NR^(x)R^(y), with R^(X) and R^(y) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “N-Sulfonamido” group refers to a R″S(═O)₂NR_(x)— group, with R_(x) being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “O-carbamyl” group refers to a —OC(═O)NR^(x)R^(y) group, with R^(x) and R^(y) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “N-carbamyl” group refers to a —OC(═O)NR^(x)R^(y) group, with R^(x) and R^(y) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “O-thiocarbamyl” group refers to a —OC(═S)NR^(x)R^(y) group, with R^(x) and R^(y) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “N-thiocarbamyl” group refers to a R^(x)OC(═S)NR^(y)— group, with R^(x) and R^(y) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

An “amino” group refers to an —NH₂ group.

A “C-amido” group refers to a —C(═O)NR^(x)R^(y) group, with R^(x) and R^(y) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “C-thioamido” group refers to a —C(═S)NR^(x)R^(y) group, with R^(x) and R^(y) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “N-amido” group refers to a R^(x)C(═O)NR^(y)— group, with R^(x) and R^(y) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

An “ureido” group refers to a —NR^(x)C(═O)NR^(y)R^(y2) group, with R^(x), R^(y), and R^(y2) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “guanidino” group refers to a —R^(x)NC(═N)NR^(y)R^(y2) group, with R^(x), R^(y), and R^(y2) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “guanyl” group refers to a R^(x)R^(y)NC(═N)— group, with R^(x) and R^(y) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “cyano” group refers to a —CN group.

A “silyl” group refers to a —Si(R″)₃, with R″ being (C₁₋₆)alkyl or phenyl.

A “phosphonyl” group refers to a P(═O)(OR^(x))₂ with R^(x) being (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “hydrazino” group refers to a —NR^(x)NR^(y)R^(y2) group, with R^(x), R^(y), and R^(y2) independently being H or (C₁₋₆)alkyl.

A “4, 5, or 6 membered ring cyclic N-lactam” group refers to

Any two adjacent R groups may combine to form an additional aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl or heterocyclic ring fused to the ring initially bearing those R groups.

It is known in the art that nitrogen atoms in heteroaryl systems can be “participating in a heteroaryl ring double bond”, and this refers to the form of double bonds in the two tautomeric structures which comprise five-member ring heteroaryl groups. This dictates whether nitrogens can be substituted as well understood by chemists in the art. The disclosure and claims of the present invention are based on the known general principles of chemical bonding. It is understood that the claims do not encompass structures known to be unstable or not able to exist based on the literature.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs of compounds disclosed herein are within the scope of the invention. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” as used herein and in the claims is intended to include nontoxic base addition salts. Suitable salts include those derived from organic and inorganic acids such as, without limitation, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, methanesulfonic acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, sulfuric acid, citric acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, sorbic acid, aconitic acid, salicylic acid, phthalic acid, and the like. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” as used herein is also intended to include salts of acidic groups, such as a carboxylate, with such counterions as ammonium, alkali metal salts, particularly sodium or potassium, alkaline earth metal salts, particularly calcium or magnesium, and salts with suitable organic bases such as lower alkylamines (methylamine, ethylamine, cyclohexylamine, and the like) or with substituted lower alkylamines (e.g., hydroxyl-substituted alkylamines such as diethanolamine, triethanolamine or tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane), or with bases such as piperidine or morpholine.

As stated above, the compounds of the invention also include “prodrugs”. The term “prodrug” as used herein encompasses both the term “prodrug esters” and the term “prodrug ethers”. The term “prodrug esters” as employed herein includes esters and carbonates formed by reacting one or more hydroxyls of compounds of Formula I with either alkyl, alkoxy, or aryl substituted acylating agents or phosphorylating agent employing procedures known to those skilled in the art to generate acetates, pivalates, methylcarbonates, benzoates, amino acid esters, phosphates, half acid esters such as malonates, succinates or glutarates, and the like.

As set forth above, the invention is directed to compounds of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

wherein A is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein a, b, c, d and e are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, COOR⁵⁶, XR⁵⁷, N^(A1)A², C(O)R⁷, C(O)NR⁵⁵R⁵⁶, B, Q, and E; B is selected from the group consisting of —C(═NR⁴⁶)(R⁴⁷), C(O)NR⁴⁰R⁴¹, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, S(O)₂R⁸, S(O)₂NR⁴⁰R⁴¹, C(O)R⁷, XR^(8a), (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴⁰R⁴¹, (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR^(8b); wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from the group F; wherein aryl is napthyl or substituted phenyl; wherein heteroaryl is a mono or bicyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms for a mono cyclic system and up to 12 atoms in a fused bicyclic system, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; wherein heteroalicyclic is a 3 to 7 membered mono cyclic ring which may contain from 1 to 2 heteroatoms in the ring skeleton and which may be fused to a benzene or pyridine ring; Q is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from the group consisting of C(O)NR⁵⁵R⁵⁶, hydroxy, cyano and XR⁵⁷; E is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl are independently optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of phenyl, heteroaryl, SMe, SPh, —C(O)NR⁵⁶R⁵⁷, C(O)R⁵⁷, SO₂(C₁₋₆)alkyl and SO₂Ph; wherein heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; F is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryloxy, (C₁₋₆)thioalkoxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, —C(O)R⁵⁷, benzyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)-aryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroalicyclic, a 4, 5, or 6 membered ring cyclic N-lactam, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-aryl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-heteroalicyclic, S(O)₂(C₁₋₆)alkyl, S(O)₂aryl, —S(O)2NR⁴²R⁴³, NR⁴²R⁴³, (C₁₋₆)alkylC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, C(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, OC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)OR⁵⁴, (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴²R⁴³, COOR⁵⁴, and (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR⁵⁴; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, and aryloxy, are optionally substituted with one to nine same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group G; wherein aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; G is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryloxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, —C(O)R⁵⁷, benzyl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)-aryl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)-heteroaryl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)-heteroalicyclic, a 4, 5, or 6 membered ring cyclic N-lactam, —NR⁴⁸S(O)₂—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)₂—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)2-aryl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)₂-heteroaryl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)2-heteroalicyclic, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, (C₁₋₆)alkyl C(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, C(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, NHC(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, OC(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, NHC(O)OR^(54′), (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, COOR⁵⁴, and (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR⁵⁴; wherein aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic; wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or with from one to three same or different substituents selected from the group F; wherein for R⁷, R⁸, R^(8a), R^(8b) aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a mono or bicyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms for mono cyclic systems and up to 10 atoms in a bicyclic system, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; wherein heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; R⁸ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆)alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆)alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to six same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group F or (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; R^(8a) is a member selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic; wherein each member is independently optionally substituted with one to six same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group F; R^(8b) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl and phenyl; X is selected from the group consisting of NH or NCH₃, O, and S; R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are independently selected from the group consisting of (a) hydrogen; (b) (C₁₋₆)alkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to two same or different substituents selected from the group F or different functional groups: (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; and (c) (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl or heteroalicyclic; or R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a member selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, 4-NMe piperazine, piperidine, azepine, and morpholine; and wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to two same or different substituents selected from the group F; wherein for R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 6 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; provided when B is C(O)NR⁴⁰R⁴¹, at least one of R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ is not selected from groups (a) or (b); R⁴² and R⁴³ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, allyl, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl and heteroalicyclic; or R⁴² and R⁴³ taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a member selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, 4-NMe piperazine, piperidine, azepine, and morpholine; and wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to two same or different substituents selected from the group G or different functional groups: (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; wherein for R⁴² and R⁴³ aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 6 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is a member selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; R⁴⁶ is selected from the group consisting of H, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl and (C₁₋₆)alkyl, OR⁵⁷, and NR⁵⁵R⁵⁶; R⁴⁷ is selected from the group consisting of H, amino, hydroxyl, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R⁴⁸ and R⁴⁹ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, phenyl, aryl and heteroaryl; R⁵⁰ is selected from the group consisting of H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, and benzyl; wherein each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and benzyl are optionally substituted with one to three same or different (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl R⁵⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R^(54′) is (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R⁵⁵ and R⁵⁶ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and R⁵⁷ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl; and A¹ and A² are independently selected from hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, SO₂D¹, SO₂ND²D³, COD⁴, COCOD⁴, COOD⁴, COND⁵D⁶, COCOND⁵D⁶, COCOOD⁴, C(═ND⁷)D⁸, C(═ND⁹)ND¹⁰D¹¹; A¹ and A² can either never connect with each other, or conjoin to form a ring structure; D¹, D², D³, D⁴, D⁵, D⁶, D⁷, D⁸, D⁹, D¹⁰, and D¹¹ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₅₀ alkyl, C₃-C₅₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₅₀ alkenyl, C₄-C₅₀ cycloalkenyl, phenyl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₅₀ amide and C₃-C₅₀ ether; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzooxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, benzoimidazolyl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazinyl, triazinyl and triazolyl; provided the carbon atoms which comprise the carbon-carbon double bond of said C₃-C₂₀ alkenyl or the carbon-carbon triple bond of said C₃-C₂₀ alkynyl are not the point of attachment to the nitrogen to which D², D³, D⁵, D⁶, D⁷, D⁹, D¹⁰, and D¹¹ is attached; wherein said C₁-C₅₀ alkyl, C₃-C₅₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₅₀ alkenyl, C₄-C₅₀ cycloalkenyl, aryl, phenyl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₅₀ amide and C₃-C₅₀ ether is optionally substituted with one to three same or different of the following functionalities: (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide and steroid, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; Z is selected from the group consisting of:

I₁, I₂, I₃, I₄, I₅, I₆, I₇ and I₈ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆) cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆) alkenyl, (C₄₋₆) cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆) alkynyl, CR₈₁R₈₂OR₈₃, COR₈₄, COOR₈₅, or CONR₈₆R₈₇; wherein each of said alkyl and cycloalkyl being optionally substituted with one to three same or different cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; R₈₁, R₈₂, R₈₃, R₈₄, R₈₅, R₈₆, and R₈₇ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆) cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆) alkenyl, (C₄₋₆) cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆) alkynyl; L is a chain containing 1-20 groups selected from the group consisting of C(B¹)(B²), O, NR³, S, S(O), S(O₂), C(O)O, C(O)NA¹, OC(O)NA¹, NA¹C(O)NA¹, and Group D, provided that 0, S(O), S(O₂), and C(O)O do not directly bond to each other; B¹ and B² are selected indenpendently from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₂)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryloxy, (C₁₋₆)thioalkoxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, —C(O)R⁵⁷, benzyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)-aryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroalicyclic, a 4, 5, or 6 membered ring cyclic N-lactam, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-aryl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-heteroalicyclic, S(O)₂(C₁₋₆)alkyl, S(O)₂aryl, —S(O)2 NR⁴²R⁴³, NR⁴²R⁴³, (C₁₋₆)alkylC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, C(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, OC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)OR⁵⁴, (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴²R⁴³, COOR⁵⁴, and (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR⁵⁴; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, and aryloxy, are optionally substituted with one to nine same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group G; wherein aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; Ar₁ and Ar₂ is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and heteroaryl; wherein said phenyl and heteroaryl are independently optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from Group C; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzooxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, benzoimidazolyl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazinyl, triazinyl and triazolyl; Group C is selected from the group consisting of OH, OR⁸, NA¹A², CN, COOR⁸, CONA¹A², SO₂R⁸, SO₂NA¹A², (C₁-C₄) alkyl, (C₃-C₆) cycloalkyl, and group D; and wherein said alkyl or cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted with one to three substitutions selected from the group of F, OH, OR⁸, NA¹A², COOR⁸, CONA¹A², SO₂R⁸, SO₂NA¹A²; and Group D is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and heteroaryl; wherein said phenyl and heteroaryl are independently optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from Group C; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzooxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, benzoimidazolyl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazinyl, triazinyl and triazolyl.

More preferred compounds of Formula I include those which are selected from the group of:

including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Of the foregoing,

are even more preferred, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof

The compounds of the present invention, according to all the various embodiments described above, may be administered orally, parenterally (including subcutaneous injections, intravenous, intramuscular, intrasternal injection or infusion techniques), by inhalation spray, or rectally, and by other means, in dosage unit formulations containing non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and/or diluents available to the skilled artisan. One or more adjuvants may also be included.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a method of treatment, and a pharmaceutical composition, for treating viral infections such as HIV infection and AIDS. The treatment involves administering to a patient in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical composition which contains an antiviral effective amount of one or more of the compounds of Formula I, together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and/or diluents. As used herein, the term “antiviral effective amount” means the total amount of each active component of the composition and method that is sufficient to show a meaningful patient benefit, i.e., inhibiting, ameliorating, or healing of acute conditions characterized by inhibition of the HIV infection. When applied to an individual active ingredient, administered alone, the term refers to that ingredient alone. When applied to a combination, the term refers to combined amounts of the active ingredients that result in the therapeutic effect, whether administered in combination, serially or simultaneously. The terms “treat, treating, treatment” as used herein and in the claims means preventing, ameliorating or healing diseases associated with HIV infection.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be in the form of orally administrable suspensions or tablets; as well as nasal sprays, sterile injectable preparations, for example, as sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspensions or suppositories. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and/or diluents may be utilized in the pharmaceutical compositions, and are those utilized in the art of pharmaceutical preparations.

When administered orally as a suspension, these compositions are prepared according to techniques typically known in the art of pharmaceutical formulation and may contain microcrystalline cellulose for imparting bulk, alginic acid or sodium alginate as a suspending agent, methylcellulose as a viscosity enhancer, and sweeteners/flavoring agents known in the art. As immediate release tablets, these compositions may contain microcrystalline cellulose, dicalcium phosphate, starch, magnesium stearate and lactose and/or other excipients, binders, extenders, disintegrants, diluents, and lubricants known in the art.

The injectable solutions or suspensions may be formulated according to known art, using suitable non-toxic, parenterally acceptable diluents or solvents, such as mannitol, 1,3-butanediol, water, Ringer's solution or isotonic sodium chloride solution, or suitable dispersing or wetting and suspending agents, such as sterile, bland, fixed oils, including synthetic mono- or diglycerides, and fatty acids, including oleic acid.

The compounds of the invention can be administered orally to humans in a dosage range of 1 to 100 mg/kg body weight in divided doses, usually over an extended period, such as days, weeks, months, or even years. One preferred dosage range is 1 to 10 mg/kg body weight orally in divided doses. Another preferred dosage range is 1 to 20 mg/kg body weight in divided doses. It will be understood, however, that the specific dose level and frequency of dosage for any particular patient may be varied and will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the specific compound employed, the metabolic stability and length of action of that compound, the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, mode and time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, the severity of the particular condition, and the host undergoing therapy.

Also contemplated herein are combinations of the compounds of Formula I herein set forth, together with one or more agents useful in the treatment of AIDS. For example, the compounds herein may be effectively administered, whether at periods of pre-exposure and/or post-exposure, in combination with effective amounts of the AIDS antivirals, immunomodulators, anti-infectives, or vaccines, such as those in the following non-limiting table:

ANTIVIRALS Drug Name Manufacturer Indication Rilpivirine Tibotec HIV infection, AIDS, ARC (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) Complera ® Gilead HIV infection, AIDS, ARC; combination with emtricitabine, rilpivirine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 097 Hoechst/Bayer HIV infection, AIDS, ARC (non-nucleoside reverse trans- criptase (RT) inhibitor) Amprenavir Glaxo Wellcome HIV infection, 141 W94 AIDS, ARC GW 141 (protease inhibitor) Abacavir (1592U89) Glaxo Wellcome HIV infection, GW 1592 AIDS, ARC (RT inhibitor) Acemannan Carrington Labs ARC (Irving, TX) Acyclovir Burroughs Wellcome HIV infection, AIDS, ARC AD-439 Tanox Biosystems HIV infection, AIDS, ARC AD-519 Tanox Biosystems HIV infection, AIDS, ARC Adefovir dipivoxil Gilead Sciences HIV infection AL-721 Ethigen ARC, PGL (Los Angeles, CA) HIV positive, AIDS Alpha Interferon Glaxo Wellcome Kaposi's sarcoma, HIV in combination w/Retrovir Ansamycin Adria Laboratories ARC LM 427 (Dublin, OH) Erbamont (Stamford, CT) Antibody which Advanced Biotherapy AIDS, ARC Neutralizes pH Concepts Labile alpha aberrant (Rockville, MD) Interferon AR177 Aronex Pharm HIV infection, AIDS, ARC Beta-fluoro-ddA Nat'l Cancer Institute AIDS-associated diseases BMS-234475 Bristol-Myers Squibb/ HIV infection, (CGP-61755) Novartis AIDS, ARC (protease inhibitor) CI-1012 Warner-Lambert HIV-1 infection Cidofovir Gilead Science CMV retinitis, herpes, papillomavirus Curdlan sulfate AJI Pharma USA HIV infection Cytomegalovirus MedImmune CMV retinitis Immune globin Cytovene Syntex Sight threatening Ganciclovir CMV peripheral CMV retinitis Darunavir Tibotec- J & J HIV infection, AIDS, ARC (protease inhibitor) Delaviridine Pharmacia-Upjohn HIV infection, AIDS, ARC (RT inhibitor) Dextran Sulfate Ueno Fine Chem. AIDS, ARC, HIV Ind. Ltd. (Osaka, positive Japan) asymptomatic ddC Hoffman-La Roche HIV infection, AIDS, Dideoxycytidine ARC ddI Bristol-Myers Squibb HIV infection, AIDS, Dideoxyinosine ARC; combination with AZT/d4T DMP-450 AVID HIV infection, (Camden, NJ) AIDS, ARC (protease inhibitor) Efavirenz Bristol Myers Squibb, HIV infection (DMP 266, Sustiva ®) AIDS, ARC (-)6-Chloro-4-(S)- (non-nucleoside RT cyclopropylethynyl- inhibitor) 4(S)-trifluoro- methy1-1,4-dihydro- 2H-3,1-benzoxazin- 2-one, STOCRINE EL10 Elan Corp, PLC HIV infection (Gainesville, GA) Etravirine Tibotec/J & J HIV infection, AIDS, ARC (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) Famciclovir Smith Kline herpes zoster, herpes simplex GS 840 Gilead HIV infection, AIDS, ARC (reverse transcriptase inhibitor) HBY097 Hoechst Marion HIV infection, Roussel AIDS, ARC (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) Hypericin VIMRx Pharm. HIV infection, AIDS, ARC Recombinant Human Triton Biosciences AIDS, Kaposi's Interferon Beta (Almeda, CA) sarcoma, ARC Interferon alfa-n3 Interferon Sciences ARC, AIDS Indinavir Merck HIV infection, AIDS, ARC, asymptomatic HIV positive, also in combination with AZT/ddI/ddC ISIS 2922 ISIS Pharmaceuticals CMV retinitis KNI-272 Nat'l Cancer Institute HIV-assoc. diseases Lamivudine, 3TC Glaxo Wellcome HIV infection, AIDS, ARC (reverse transcriptase inhibitor); also with AZT Lobucavir Bristol-Myers Squibb CMV infection Nelfinavir Agouron HIV infection, Pharmaceuticals AIDS, ARC (protease inhibitor) Nevirapine Boeheringer HIV infection, Ingleheim AIDS, ARC (RT inhibitor) Novapren Novaferon Labs, Inc. HIV inhibitor (Akron, OH) Peptide T Peninsula Labs AIDS Octapeptide (Belmont, CA) Sequence Trisodium Astra Pharm. CMV retinitis, HIV Phosphonoformate Products, Inc. infection, other CMV infections PNU-140690 Pharmacia Upjohn HIV infection, AIDS, ARC (protease inhibitor) Probucol Vyrex HIV infection, AIDS RBC-CD4 Sheffield Med. HIV infection, Tech (Houston, TX) AIDS, ARC Ritonavir Abbott HIV infection, AIDS, ARC (protease inhibitor) Saquinavir Hoffmann- HIV infection, LaRoche AIDS, ARC (protease inhibitor) Stavudine; d4T Bristol-Myers Squibb HIV infection, AIDS, Didehydrodeoxy- ARC Thymidine Tipranavir Boehringer Ingelheim HIV infection, AIDS, ARC (protease inhibitor) Valaciclovir Glaxo Wellcome Genital HSV & CMV Infections Virazole Viratek/ICN asymptomatic HIV Ribavirin (Costa Mesa, CA) positive, LAS, ARC VX-478 Vertex HIV infection, AIDS, ARC Zalcitabine Hoffmann-LaRoche HIV infection, AIDS, ARC, with AZT Zidovudine; AZT Glaxo Wellcome HIV infection, AIDS, ARC, Kaposi's sarcoma, in combination with other therapies Tenofovir disoproxil, Gilead HIV infection, fumarate salt (Viread ®) AIDS, (reverse transcriptase inhibitor) Emtriva ® (Emtricitabine) Gilead HIV infection, (FTC) AIDS, (reverse transcriptase inhibitor) Combivir ® GSK HIV infection, AIDS, (reverse transcriptase inhibitor) Abacavir succinate GSK HIV infection, (or Ziagen ®) AIDS, (reverse transcriptase inhibitor) Reyataz ® Bristol-Myers Squibb HIV infection (or atazanavir) AIDs, protease inhibitor Fuzeon ® Roche/Trimeris HIV infection (Enfuvirtide or T-20) AIDs, viral Fusion inhibitor Lexiva ® GSK/Vertex HIV infection (or Fosamprenavir calcium) AIDs, viral protease inhibitor Selzentry Maraviroc; (UK 427857) Pfizer HIV infection AIDs, (CCRS antagonist, in development) Trizivir ® GSK HIV infection AIDs, (three drug combination) Sch-417690 (vicriviroc) Schering-Plough HIV infection AIDs, (CCRS antagonist, in development) TAK-652 Takeda HIV infection AIDs, (CCRS antagonist, in development) GSK 873140 GSK/ONO HIV infection (ONO-4128) AIDs, (CCRS antagonist, in development) Integrase Inhibitor Merck HIV infection MK-0518 AIDs Raltegravir Truvada ® Gilead Combination of Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate salt (Viread ®) and Emtriva ® (Emtricitabine) Integrase Inhibitor Gilead/Japan Tobacco HIV Infection GS917/JTK-303 AIDs Elvitegravir in development Triple drug combination Gilead/Bristol-Myers Squibb Combination of Tenofovir Atripla ® disoproxil fumarate salt (Viread ®), Emtriva ® (Emtricitabine), and Sustiva ® (Efavirenz) Festinavir ® Oncolys BioPharma HIV infection AIDs in development CMX-157 Chimerix HIV infection Lipid conjugate of AIDs nucleotide tenofovir GSK1349572 GSK HIV infection Integrase inhibitor AIDs

IMMUNOMODULATORS Drug Name Manufacturer Indication AS-101 Wyeth-Ayerst AIDS Bropirimine Pharmacia Upjohn Advanced AIDS Acemannan Carrington Labs, Inc. AIDS, ARC (Irving, TX) CL246,738 Wyeth AIDS, Kaposi's Lederle Labs sarcoma FP-21399 Fuki ImmunoPharm Blocks HIV fusion with CD4+ cells Gamma Interferon Genentech ARC, in combination w/TNF (tumor necrosis factor) Granulocyte Genetics Institute AIDS Macrophage Colony Sandoz Stimulating Factor Granulocyte Hoechst-Roussel AIDS Macrophage Colony Immunex Stimulating Factor Granulocyte Schering-Plough AIDS, Macrophage Colony combination Stimulating Factor w/AZT HIV Core Particle Rorer Seropositive HIV Immunostimulant IL-2 Cetus AIDS, in combination Interleukin-2 w/AZT IL-2 Hoffman-LaRoche AIDS, ARC, HIV, in Interleukin-2 Immunex combination w/AZT IL-2 Chiron AIDS, increase in Interleukin-2 CD4 cell counts (aldeslukin) Immune Globulin Cutter Biological Pediatric AIDS, in Intravenous (Berkeley, CA) combination w/AZT (human) IMREG-1 Imreg AIDS, Kaposi's (New Orleans, LA) sarcoma, ARC, PGL IMREG-2 Imreg AIDS, Kaposi's (New Orleans, LA) sarcoma, ARC, PGL Imuthiol Diethyl Merieux Institute AIDS, ARC Dithio Carbamate Alpha-2 Schering Plough Kaposi's sarcoma Interferon w/AZT, AIDS Methionine- TNI Pharmaceutical AIDS, ARC Enkephalin (Chicago, IL) MTP-PE Ciba-Geigy Corp. Kaposi's sarcoma Muramyl-Tripeptide Granulocyte Amgen AIDS, in combination Colony Stimulating w/AZT Factor Remune Immune Response Immunotherapeutic Corp. rCD4 Genentech AIDS, ARC Recombinant Soluble Human CD4 rCD4-IgG AIDS, ARC hybrids Recombinant Biogen AIDS, ARC Soluble Human CD4 Interferon Hoffman-La Roche Kaposi's sarcoma Alfa 2a AIDS, ARC, in combination w/AZT SK&F106528 Smith Kline HIV infection Soluble T4 Thymopentin Immunobiology HIV infection Research Institute (Annandale, NJ) Tumor Necrosis Genentech ARC, in combination Factor; TNF w/gamma Interferon

ANTI-INFECTIVES Drug Name Manufacturer Indication Clindamycin with Pharmacia Upjohn PCP Primaquine Fluconazole Pfizer Cryptococcal meningitis, candidiasis Pastille Squibb Corp. Prevention of Nystatin Pastille oral candidiasis Ornidyl Merrell Dow PCP Eflornithine Pentamidine LyphoMed PCP treatment Isethionate (IM & IV) (Rosemont, IL) Trimethoprim Antibacterial Trimethoprim/sulfa Antibacterial Piritrexim Burroughs Wellcome PCP treatment Pentamidine Fisons Corporation PCP prophylaxis Isethionate for Inhalation Spiramycin Rhone-Poulenc Cryptosporidial diarrhea Intraconazole- Janssen-Pharm. Histoplasmosis; R51211 cryptococcal meningitis Trimetrexate Warner-Lambert PCP Daunorubicin NeXstar, Sequus Kaposi 's sarcoma Recombinant Human Ortho Pharm. Corp. Severe anemia Erythropoietin assoc. with AZT therapy Recombinant Human Serono AIDS-related Growth Hormone wasting, cachexia Megestrol Acetate Bristol-Myers Squibb Treatment of anorexia assoc. W/AIDS Testosterone Alza, Smith Kline AIDS-related wasting Total Enteral Norwich Eaton Diarrhea and Nutrition Pharmaceuticals malabsorption related to AIDS

Additionally, the compounds of the invention herein set forth may be used in combination with other HIV entry inhibitors. Examples of such HIV entry inhibitors are discussed in Drugs of the Future, 24(12):1355-1362 (1999); Cell, 9:243-246 (Oct. 29, 1999); and Drug Discovery Today, 5(5):183-194 (May 2000) and Meanwell, N. A. et al., “Inhibitors of the entry of HIV into host cells”, Curr. Op. Drug Disc. Dev, 6(4):451-461 (2003). Specifically the compounds can be utilized in combination with other attachment inhibitors, fusion inhibitors, and chemokine receptor antagonists aimed at either the CCR5 or CXCR4 coreceptor.

It will be understood that the scope of combinations of the compounds herein with AIDS antivirals, immunomodulators, anti-infectives, HIV entry inhibitors or vaccines is not limited to the list in the above Table but includes, in principle, any combination with any pharmaceutical composition useful for the treatment of AIDS.

Preferred combinations are simultaneous or alternating treatments with a compound of the present invention and an inhibitor of HIV protease and/or a non-nucleoside inhibitor of HIV reverse transcriptase. An optional fourth component in the combination is a nucleoside inhibitor of HIV reverse transcriptase, such as AZT, 3TC, ddC or ddI. A preferred inhibitor of HIV protease is REYATAZ® (active ingredient Atazanavir). Typically a dose of 300 to 600 mg is administered once a day. This may be co-administered with a low dose of Ritonavir (50 to 500mgs). Another preferred inhibitor of HIV protease is KALETRA®. Another useful inhibitor of HIV protease is indinavir, which is the sulfate salt of N-(2(R)-hydroxy-1-(S)-indanyl)-2(R)-phenylmethyl-4-(S)-hydroxy-5-(1-(4-(3-pyridyl-methyl)-2(S)—N-(t-butylcarboxamido)-piperazinyl))-pentaneamide ethanolate, and is synthesized according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,999. Indinavir is generally administered at a dosage of 800 mg three times a day. Other preferred protease inhibitors are nelfinavir and ritonavir. Another preferred inhibitor of HIV protease is saquinavir which is administered in a dosage of 600 or 1200 mg tid. Preferred non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase include efavirenz. These combinations may have unexpected effects on limiting the spread and degree of infection of HIV. Preferred combinations include those with the following (1) indinavir with efavirenz, and, optionally, AZT and/or 3TC and/or ddI and/or ddC; (2) indinavir, and any of AZT and/or ddI and/or ddC and/or 3TC, in particular, indinavir and AZT and 3TC; (3) stavudine and 3TC and/or zidovudine; (4) zidovudine and lamivudine and 141W94 and 1592U89; (5) zidovudine and lamivudine. (The preparation of ddC, ddI and AZT are also described in EP 0 484 071.)

In such combinations the compounds of the present invention and other active agents may be administered separately or in conjunction. In addition, the administration of one element may be prior to, concurrent to, or subsequent to the administration of other agent(s).

Methods of Synthesis

The present invention comprises compounds of Formula I, their pharmaceutical formulations, and their use in patients suffering from or susceptible to HIV infection. The compounds of Formula I include pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds may be made by methods available in the art, as well as those described after the Abbreviations and including variations within the skill of the art. Some reagents and intermediates are known in the art. Other reagents and intermediates can be made by methods known in the art using readily available materials. The variables (e.g. numbered “R” substituents) used to describe the synthesis of the compounds are intended only to illustrate how to make the compounds and are not to be confused with variables used in the claims or in other sections of the specification. The following methods are for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Abbreviations

One or more of the following abbreviations, most of which are conventional abbreviations well known to those skilled in the art, may be used throughout the description of the disclosure and the examples:

h=hour(s) rt=room temperature mol=mole(s) mmol=millimole(s) g=gram(s) mg=milligram(s) mL=milliliter(s) TFA=trifluoroacetic Acid

DCE=1,2-Dichloroethane

CH₂Cl₂=dichloromethane TPAP=tetrapropylammonium perruthenate THF=tetrahydrofuran DEPBT=3-(diethoxyphosphoryloxy)-1,2,3-benzotriazin-4(3H)-one DMAP=4-dimethylaminopyridine P-EDC=polymer supported 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide EDC=1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide

DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide Hunig's Base=N,N-diisopropylethylamine

MCPBA=meta-chloroperbenzoic acid azaindole=1H-pyrrolo-pyridine 4-azaindole=1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine 5-azaindole=1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine 6-azaindole=1H-pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridine 7-azaindole=1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine PMB=4-methoxybenzyl DDQ=2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone OTf=trifluoromethanesulfonoxy NMM=4-methylmorpholine PIP-COPh=1-benzoylpiperazine NaHMDS=sodium hexamethyldisilazide EDAC=1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide TMS=trimethylsilyl DCM=dichloromethane DCE=dichloroethane MeOH=methanol THF=tetrahydrofuran EtOAc=ethyl acetate LDA=lithium diisopropylamide TMP-Li=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl lithium DME=dimethoxyethane DIBALH=diisobutylaluminum hydride HOBT=1-hydroxybenzotriazole CBZ=benzyloxycarbonyl PCC=pyridinium chlorochromate TBTU=0-(benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate DEBPT=3-(diethoxyphosphoryloxy)-1,2,3-benzotriazin-4(3H)-one BOP=benzotriazole-1-yl-oxy-tris-(dimethylamino)-phosphoniumhexafluorophosphate

Preparation of Compounds of Formula I

Preparation of template A-CO—CO—Cl and A-CO—CO—OH has been described in detail in WO-00076521, WO-0162255, WO-0204440, WO-02062423, WO-02085301, WO-03068221 and US-2004/0063744.

Standard conditions such as reacting amine with acyl halide 1 (Scheme 1a) and carboxyl acid 3 (Scheme 1b) can be used to prepare the desired amide products. Some general references of these methodologies and directions for use are contained in “Comprehensive Organic Transformation” by Richard C. Larock, Wiley-VCH, New York, 1989, 972 (Carboxylic acids to amides), 979 (Acid halides to amides).

Scheme 1a depicts a general method for forming an amide from piperazine derivative 2 and acyl chloride 1. An appropriate base (from catalytic to an excess amount) selected from sodium hydride, potassium carbonate, triethylamine, DBU, pyridine, DMAP or di-isopropyl ethyl amine was added into a solution of piperazine derivative 2 and acyl chloride 1 in an appropriate solvent selected from dichloromethane, chloroform, benzene, toluene, THF, diethyl ether, dioxane, acetone, N,N-dimethylformamide or pyridine at room temperature. Then reaction was carried out at either room temperature or evaluated temperature up to 150° C. over a period of time (30 minutes to 48 hours) to afford the structure of Formula I. Some selected references involving such reactions include a) Indian J. Chem., Sect B 1990, 29, 1077; 2) Z. Naturforsch, 1998, 53, 1216; 3) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1992, 40, 1481; 4) Chem. Heterocycl. Compd. 2002, 38, 539.

Alternatively, as shown in Scheme 1b, a piperazine derivative 2 can be coupled with an acid 3 using standard amide bond or peptide bond forming coupling reagents. Many reagents for amide bond couplings are known by an organic chemist skilled in the art and nearly all of these are applicable for realizing coupled amide products. The combination of EDAC and triethylamine in tetrahydrofuran or BOPC1 and diisopropyl ethyl amine in chloroform have been utilized most frequently but DEPBT, or other coupling reagents such as PyBop could be utilized. Another useful coupling condition employs HATU ((a) J. Chem. Soc. Chem Comm. 1994, 201; (b) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1994, 116, 11580). Additionally, DEPBT (3-(diethoxyphosphoryloxy)-1,2,3-benzotriazin-4(3H)-one) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine, commonly known as Hunig's base, represents another efficient method to form the amide bond and provide compounds of Formula I. DEPBT is either purchased from Aldrich or prepared according to the procedure described in Organic Leu., 1999, 1, 91. Typically an inert solvent such as DMF or THF is used but other aprotic solvents could be used.

EXAMPLES

The following examples illustrate typical syntheses of the compounds of Formula I as described generally above. These examples are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. The reagents and starting materials are readily available to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Chemistry Experimental Typical Procedures and Characterization of Selected Examples

Unless otherwise stated, solvents and reagents were used directly as obtained from commercial sources, and reactions were performed under a nitrogen atmosphere. Flash chromatography was conducted on Silica gel 60 (0.040-0.063 particle size; EM Science supply). ¹H NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker DRX-500f at 500 MHz (or Bruker DPX-300B or Varian Gemini 300 at 300 MHz as stated). The chemical shifts were reported in ppm on the δ scale relative to δTMS=0. The following internal references were used for the residual protons in the following solvents: CDCl₃ (δ_(H) 7.26), CD₃OD (δ_(H) 3.30), and DMSO-d6 (δ_(H) 2.50). Standard acronyms were employed to describe the multiplicity patterns: s (singlet), d (doublet), t (triplet), q (quartet), m (multiplet), b (broad), app (apparent). The coupling constant (J) is in Hertz. All Liquid Chromatography (LC) data were recorded on a Shimadzu LC-10AS liquid chromatograph using a SPD-10AV UV-Vis detector with Mass Spectrometry (MS) data determined using a Micromass Platform for LC in electrospray mode.

HPLC Method (i.e., Compound Isolation)

Compounds purified by preparative HPLC were diluted in methanol (1.2 mL) and purified using a Shimadzu LC-8A or LC-10A automated preparative HPLC system.

Typical Procedures and Characterization of Selected Examples: Intermediate ACOCOOH or ACOCOCl:

Preparation of intermediate ACOCOOH or ACOCOCl was described in the previous published applications (W. Blair, et al. WO-200076521, O. Wallace, et al WO-200204440, T. Wang, et al. WO-200162255 and T. Wang, et al. WO-2002062423). Some examples of ACOCOOH are listed in below.

General Procedure to Prepare Formula I:

2-Keto acid (1 eq.), amine (1-5 eq.), 3-(diethoxyphosphoryloxy)-1,2,3-benzotriazin-4(3H)-one (DEPBT) or O-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (TBTU) (1-5 eq.) or (2-(7-Aza-1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate) (HATU) (1-5 eq.) and Hunig's Base or N-methyl morpholine (1-100 eq.) were combined in THF or DMF. The mixture was stirred at room temperature or 115° C. for 17 hours. THF or DMF was removed via evaporation at reduced pressure and the residue was partitioned between ethyl acetate and saturated NaHCO₃ aqueous solution. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was combined and dried over anhydrous MgSO₄. Concentration in vacuo provided a crude product, which was purified by titration, or recrystallization, or silica gel column chromatography, or Shimadzu automated preparative HPLC System.

2-Keto acyl chloride (1 eq.), amine (1-5 eq.) and Hunig's Base or Et₃N (1-100 eq.) were combined in THF or DMF. The mixture was stirred at room temperature or 115° C. for 17 hours. THF or DMF was removed via evaporation at reduced pressure and the residue was partitioned between ethyl acetate and saturated NaHCO₃ aqueous solution. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic phase was combined and dried over anhydrous MgSO₄. Concentration in vacuo provided a crude product, which was purified by tritaration, or recrystallization, or silica gel column chromatography, or Shimadzu automated preparative HPLC System.

Characterization:

Compound 1001

MS (M + H)⁺ Calcd. 485.1 MS (M + H)⁺ Observ. 485.2 Retention Time 1.50 min LC Condition Solvent A 90% Water-10% Methanol-0.1% TFA Solvent B 10% Water-90% Methanol-0.1% TFA Start % B  0 Final % B 100 Gradient Time   2 min Flow Rate   5 mL/min Wavelength 220 Solvent Pair Water-Methanol-TFA Column XTERRA C18 S7 3.0 x 50 mm Compound 1002

MS (M + H)⁺ Calcd. 484.1 MS (M + H)⁺ Observ. 484.1 Retention Time 1.39 min LC Condition Solvent A 90% Water-10% Methanol-0.1% TFA Solvent B 10% Water-90% Methanol-0.1% TFA Start % B  0 Final % B 100 Gradient Time   2 min Flow Rate   5 mL/min Wavelength 220 Solvent Pair Water-Methanol-TFA Column XTERRA MS C18 5 um 4.6 x 30 mm Compound 1003

MS (M + H)⁺ Calcd. 583.2 MS (M + H)⁺ Observ. 583.1 Retention Time 1.54 min LC Condition Solvent A 90% Water-10% Methanol-0.1% TFA Solvent B 10% Water-90% Methanol-0.1% TFA Start % B  0 Final % B 100 Gradient Time   2 min Flow Rate   5 mL/min Wavelength 220 Solvent Pair Water-Methanol-TFA Column XTERRA MS C18 5 um 4.6 x 30 mm Compound 1004

MS (M + H)⁺ Calcd. 581.0 MS (M + H)⁺ Observ. 581.2 Retention Time 1.78 min LC Condition Solvent A 90% Water-10% Methanol-0.1% TFA Solvent B 10% Water-90% Methanol-0.1% TFA Start % B  0 Final % B 100 Gradient Time   2 min Flow Rate   5 mL/min Wavelength 220 Solvent Pair Water-Methanol-TFA Column XTERRA C18 S7 3.0 x 50 mm Compound 1005

MS (M + H)⁺ Calcd. 597.2 MS (M + H)⁺ Observ. 597.1 Retention Time 1.69 min LC Condition Solvent A 90% Water-10% Methanol-0.1% TFA Solvent B 10% Water-90% Methanol-0.1% TFA Start % B  0 Final % B 100 Gradient Time   2 min Flow Rate   5 mL/min Wavelength 220 Solvent Pair Water-Methanol-TFA Column XTERRA C18 S7 3.0 x 50 mm Compound 1006

MS (M + H)⁺ Calcd. 596.2 MS (M + H)⁺ Observ. 596.1 Retention Time 1.46 min LC Condition Solvent A 90% Water-10% Methanol-0.1% TFA Solvent B 10% Water-90% Methanol-0.1% TFA Start % B  0 Final % B 100 Gradient Time   2 min Flow Rate   5 mL/min Wavelength 220 Solvent Pair Water-Methanol-TFA Column XTERRA C18 S7 3.0 x 50 mm Compound 1007

MS (M + H)⁺ Calcd. 593.1 MS (M + H)⁺ Observ. 593.3 Retention Time 1.76 min LC Condition Solvent A 90% Water-10% Methanol-0.1% TFA Solvent B 10% Water-90% Methanol-0.1% TFA Start % B  0 Final % B 100 Gradient Time   2 min Flow Rate   5 mL/min Wavelength 220 Solvent Pair Water-Methanol-TFA Column XTERRA MS C18 5 um 4.6 x 30 mm

Biology Data for the Examples

-   -   “μM” means micromolar;     -   “mL” means milliliter;     -   “μl” means microliter;     -   “mg” means milligram;

The materials and experimental procedures used to obtain the results reported in Table 1 are described below.

Cells:

-   -   Virus production—Human embryonic Kidney cell line, 293T (HEK         293T), was propagated in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium         (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) containing 10% fetal bovine serum         (FBS, Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.). The human T-cell leukemia cell MT2         (AIDS Research and Reference Reagent Program, Cat. 237) was         propagated in RPMI 1640 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.)         containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS, Hyclone, Logan, Utah)     -   Virus infection—Single-round infectious reporter virus was         produced by co-transfecting HEK 293T cells with plasmide         expressing the HIV-1 LAI envelope along with a plasmid         containing an HIV-1 LAI proviral cDNA with the envelope gene         replaced by a firefly luciferase reporter gene (Chen et al., Ref         41). Transfections were performed using lipofectAMINE PLUS         reagent as described by the manufacturer (Invitrogen, Carlsbad,         Calif.).

Experimental Procedure

-   1. MT2 cells were plated in black, 384 well plates at a cell density     of 5×10³ cells per well in 25 μl RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS. -   2. Compound (diluted in dimethylsulfoxide and growth medium) was     added to cells at 12.5 μl/well, so that the final assay     concentration would be ≦50 nM. -   3. 12.5 μl of single-round infectious reporter virus in Dulbecco's     Modified Eagle Medium was added to the plated cells and compound at     an approximate multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.01, resulting in     a final volume of 50 μl per well. -   4. Virus-infected cells were incubated at 37 degrees Celsius in a     CO₂ incubator and harvested 72 h after infection. -   5. Viral infection was monitored by measuring luciferase expression     in the infected cells using a luciferase reporter gene assay kit     (Steady-Glo, Promega, Madison, Wis.) as described by the     manufacturer. Luciferase activity was then quantified by measuring     luminescence using an EnVision Multilabel Plate Readers     (PerkinElmer, Waltham, Mass.). -   6. The percent inhibition for each compound was calculated by     quantifying the level of luciferase expression in cells infected in     the presence of each compound as a percentage of that observed for     cells infected in the absence of compound and subtracting such a     determined value from 100. -   7. An EC₅₀ provides a method for comparing the antiviral potency of     the compounds herein. The effective concentration for fifty percent     inhibition (EC₅₀) was calculated with the Microsoft Excel Xlfit     curve fitting software. For each compound, curves were generated     from percent inhibition calculated at 10 different concentrations by     using a four parameter logistic model (model 205). The EC₅₀ data for     the compounds is shown in Table 2. Table 1 is the key for the data     in Table 2.

TABLE 1 Biological Data Key for EC₅₀ Compounds with EC₅₀ > 0.5μM Compounds with EC₅₀ < 0.5 μM Group B Group A

TABLE 2 EC₅₀ Compd. Group from Number Structure Table 1 1001

B 705.60 nM 1002

B 1003

A 1004

B 1005

A  1.83 nM 1006

A

The foregoing description is merely illustrative and should not be understood to limit the scope or underlying principles of the invention in any way. Indeed, various modifications of the invention, in addition to those shown and described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following examples and the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. One or more compounds of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

wherein A is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein a, b, c, d and e are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, COOR⁵⁶, XR⁵⁷, NA¹A², C(O)R⁷, C(O)NR⁵⁵R⁵⁶, B, Q, and E; B is selected from the group consisting of —C(═NR⁴⁶)(R⁴⁷), C(O)NR⁴⁰R⁴¹, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, S(O)₂R⁸, S(O)₂NR⁴⁰R⁴¹, C(O)R⁷, XR^(8a), (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴⁰R⁴¹, (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR^(8b); wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from the group F; wherein aryl is napthyl or substituted phenyl; wherein heteroaryl is a mono or bicyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms for a mono cyclic system and up to 12 atoms in a fused bicyclic system, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; wherein heteroalicyclic is a 3 to 7 membered mono cyclic ring which may contain from 1 to 2 heteroatoms in the ring skeleton and which may be fused to a benzene or pyridine ring; Q is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from the group consisting of C(O)NR⁵⁵R⁵⁶, hydroxy, cyano and XR⁵⁷; E is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl and (C₂₋₆)alkenyl are independently optionally substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of phenyl, heteroaryl, SMe, SPh, —C(O)NR⁵⁶R⁵⁷, C(O)R⁵⁷, SO₂(C₁₋₆)alkyl and SO₂Ph; wherein heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; F is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryloxy, (C₁₋₆)thioalkoxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, —C(O)R⁵⁷, benzyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)-aryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroalicyclic, a 4, 5, or 6 membered ring cyclic N-lactam, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-aryl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-heteroalicyclic, S(O)₂(C₁₋₆)alkyl, S(O)₂aryl, —S(O)2NR⁴²R⁴³, NR⁴²R⁴³, (C₁₋₆)alkylC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, C(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, OC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)OR⁵⁴, (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴²R⁴³, COOR⁵⁴, and (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR⁵⁴; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, and aryloxy, are optionally substituted with one to nine same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group G; wherein aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; G is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryloxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, —C(O)R⁵⁷, benzyl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)-aryl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)-heteroaryl, —NR⁴⁸C(O)-heteroalicyclic, a 4, 5, or 6 membered ring cyclic N-lactam, —NR⁴⁸S(O)₂—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)₂—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)2-aryl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)₂-heteroaryl, —NR⁴⁸S(O)2-heteroalicyclic, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, (C₁₋₆)alkyl C(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, C(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, NHC(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, OC(O)NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, NHC(O)OR^(54′), (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, COOR⁵⁴, and (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR⁵⁴; wherein aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic; wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or with from one to three same or different substituents selected from the group F; wherein for R⁷, R⁸, R^(8a), R^(8b) aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a mono or bicyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms for mono cyclic systems and up to 10 atoms in a bicyclic system, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; wherein heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; R⁸ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆)alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆)alkenyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆)alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to six same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group F or (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; R^(8a) is a member selected from the group consisting of aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic; wherein each member is independently optionally substituted with one to six same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group F; R^(8b) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl and phenyl; X is selected from the group consisting of NH or NCH₃, 0, and S; R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are independently selected from the group consisting of (a) hydrogen; (b) (C₁₋₆)alkyl or (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to two same or different substituents selected from the group F or different functional groups: (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; and (c) (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl or heteroalicyclic; or R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a member selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, 4-NMe piperazine, piperidine, azepine, and morpholine; and wherein said aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to two same or different substituents selected from the group F; wherein for R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 6 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; provided when B is C(O)NR⁴⁰R⁴¹, at least one of R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ is not selected from groups (a) or (b); R⁴² and R⁴³ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, allyl, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl and heteroalicyclic; or R⁴² and R⁴³ taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a member selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, 4-NMe piperazine, piperidine, azepine, and morpholine; and wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and heteroalicyclic are optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to two same or different substituents selected from the group G or different functional groups: (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; wherein for R⁴² and R⁴³ aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 6 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is a member selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; R⁴⁶ is selected from the group consisting of H, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl and (C₁₋₆)alkyl, OR⁵⁷, and NR⁵⁵R⁵⁶; R⁴⁷ is selected from the group consisting of H, amino, hydroxyl, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R⁴⁸ and R⁴⁹ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, phenyl, aryl and heteroaryl; R⁵⁰ is selected from the group consisting of H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, and benzyl; wherein each of said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl and benzyl are optionally substituted with one to three same or different (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl R⁵⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R^(54′) is (C₁₋₆)alkyl; R⁵⁵ and R⁵⁶ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and (C₁₋₆)alkyl; and R⁵⁷ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl; and A¹ and A² are independently selected from hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, SO₂D¹, SO₂ND²D³, COD⁴, COCOD⁴, COOD⁴, COND⁵D⁶, COCOND⁵D⁶, COCOOD⁴, C(═ND⁷)D⁸, C(═ND⁹)ND¹⁰D¹¹; A¹ and A² can either never connect with each other, or conjoin to form a ring structure; D¹, D², D³, D⁴, D⁵, D⁶, D⁷, D⁸, D⁹, D¹⁰, and D¹¹ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, C₁-C₅₀ alkyl, C₃-C₅₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₅₀ alkenyl, C₄-C₅₀ cycloalkenyl, phenyl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₅₀ amide and C₃-C₅₀ ether; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzooxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, benzoimidazolyl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazinyl, triazinyl and triazolyl; provided the carbon atoms which comprise the carbon-carbon double bond of said C₃-C₂₀ alkenyl or the carbon-carbon triple bond of said C₃-C₂₀ alkynyl are not the point of attachment to the nitrogen to which D², D³, D⁵, D⁶, D⁷, D⁹, D¹⁰, and D¹¹ is attached; wherein said C₁-C₅₀ alkyl, C₃-C₅₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₅₀ alkenyl, C₄-C₅₀ cycloalkenyl, aryl, phenyl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₅₀ amide and C₃-C₅₀ ether is optionally substituted with one to three same or different of the following functionalities: (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide and steroid, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; Z is selected from the group consisting of:

I₁, I₂, I₃, I₄, I₅, I₆, I₇ and I₈ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆) cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆) alkenyl, (C₄₋₆) cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆) alkynyl, CR₈₁R₈₂OR₈₃, COR₈₄, COOR₈₅, or CONR₈₆R₈₇; wherein each of said alkyl and cycloalkyl being optionally substituted with one to three same or different cyano, phenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, halogen, benzyl, primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, nitro, thiol, thioether, alcohol, ether, acid, aldehyde, ketone, amide, amidine, guanidine, sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfamide, acyl sulfamide, sulfate, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, phosphate, phosphoric acid, boronic ester, boronic acid, squarate, squaric acid, oxime, hydrazine, peroxide, among which ether, peroxide, thioether, secondary amine, tertiary amine, ammonium, ester, ketone, amide, amidine, oxime, hydrazine can be either acyclic or cyclic; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, triazolyl, pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, and pyrimidinyl; R₈₁, R₈₂, R₈₃, R₈₄, R₈₅, R₈₆, and R₈₇ are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₆) cycloalkyl, (C₂₋₆) alkenyl, (C₄₋₆) cycloalkenyl, (C₂₋₆) alkynyl; L is a chain containing 1-20 groups selected from the group consisting of C(B¹)(B²), O, NR³, S, S(O), S(O₂), C(O)O, C(O)NA¹, OC(O)NA¹, NA¹C(O)NA¹, and Group D, provided that 0, S(O), S(O₂), and C(O)O do not directly bond to each other; B¹ and B² are selected independently from the group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, hydroxy, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryloxy, (C₁₋₆)thioalkoxy, cyano, halogen, nitro, —C(O)R⁵⁷, benzyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²C(O)-aryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²C(O)-heteroalicyclic, a 4, 5, or 6 membered ring cyclic N-lactam, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₁₋₆)alkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂—(C₃₋₆)cycloalkyl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-aryl, —NR⁴²S(O)₂-heteroaryl, —NR⁴²S(O)2-heteroalicyclic, S(O)₂(C₁₋₆)alkyl, S(O)₂aryl, —S(O)2 NR⁴²R⁴³, NR⁴²R⁴³, (C₁₋₆)alkylC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, C(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, OC(O)NR⁴²R⁴³, NHC(O)OR⁵⁴, (C₁₋₆)alkylNR⁴²R⁴³, COOR⁵⁴, and (C₁₋₆)alkylCOOR⁵⁴; wherein said (C₁₋₆)alkyl, (C₃₋₇)cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heteroalicyclic, (C₁₋₆)alkoxy, and aryloxy, are optionally substituted with one to nine same or different halogens or from one to five same or different substituents selected from the group G; wherein aryl is phenyl; heteroaryl is a monocyclic system which contains from 3 to 7 ring atoms, including from 1 to 4 heteroatoms; heteroalicyclic is selected from the group consisting of aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, piperazine, piperidine, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, azepine, and morpholine; Ar₁ and Ar₂ is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and heteroaryl; wherein said phenyl and heteroaryl are independently optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from Group C; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzooxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, benzoimidazolyl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazinyl, triazinyl and triazolyl; Group C is selected from the group consisting of OH, OR⁸, NA¹A², CN, COOR⁸, CONA¹A², SO₂R⁸, SO₂NA¹A², (C₁-C₄) alkyl, (C₃-C₆) cycloalkyl, and group D; and wherein said alkyl or cycloalkyl group is optionally substituted with one to three substitutions selected from the group of F, OH, OR⁸, NA¹A², COOR⁸, CONA¹A², SO₂R⁸, SO₂NA¹A²; and Group D is selected from the group consisting of phenyl and heteroaryl; wherein said phenyl and heteroaryl are independently optionally substituted with one to three same or different halogens or from one to three same or different substituents selected from Group C; heteroaryl is selected from the group consisting of pyridinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, benzooxazolyl, isoxazolyl, imidazolyl, benzoimidazolyl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl, 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, tetrazinyl, triazinyl and triazolyl.
 2. One or more compounds, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are selected from the group of:


3. One or more compounds, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which are selected from the group of:


4. A pharmaceutical composition which comprises an antiviral effective amount of one or more of the compounds of Formula I as claimed in claim 2, together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and/or diluents.
 5. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 4, useful for treating infection by HIV, which additionally comprises an antiviral effective amount of an AIDS treatment agent selected from the group consisting of: (a) an AIDS antiviral agent; (b) an anti-infective agent; (c) an immunomodulator; and (d) another HIV entry inhibitor.
 6. A method for treating a mammal infected with the HIV virus comprising administering to said mammal an antiviral effective amount of a compound of Formula I as claimed in claim 2, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and/or diluents.
 7. The method of claim 6, comprising administering to said mammal an antiviral effective amount of a compound of Formula I, in combination with an antiviral effective amount of an AIDS treatment agent selected from the group consisting of an AIDS antiviral agent; an anti-infective agent; an immunomodulator; and another HIV entry inhibitor.
 8. A pharmaceutical composition which comprises an antiviral effective amount of one or more of the compounds of Formula I as claimed in claim 3, together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and/or diluents.
 9. A method for treating a mammal infected with the HIV virus comprising administering to said mammal an antiviral effective amount of a compound of Formula I as claimed in claim 3, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and/or diluents. 